Credit Card Security Cover

ABSTRACT

A durable, rigid adhesive cover for credit cards, debit cards and the like. The cover provides physical and information protection for the cards, and further may provide aesthetic customization and enhancement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains to an adhesive cover for protection andenhancement of information security usable with various types of cards,in particular credit cards, debit cards, identification cards, and anyother card including personally identifying information or othersensitive information printed, embossed, or otherwise displayed thereon.Throughout this specification, the terms credit card and/or debit cardare used as examples of cards to which the cover disclosed herein may beapplied. However, the use of such example language is not intended to belimiting.

2. Description of Related Art

Anytime a credit card or debit card is used to perform a transaction, itmust necessarily be brought into public view. However, such cardstypically contain significant and valuable sensitive information whichthe user would not otherwise want to display publicly. For example, whena restaurant patron wishes to pay with a credit card or debit card, heor she typically must place the card on the table or on a small trayuntil the server comes to collect it. During this time, any passerby whoalso happens to be in the restaurant may be able to observe the card,including the sensitive information displayed thereon. Once the card iscollected in order to process the payment, the card is removed from theview of its owner who is then unable to observe or detect anyunauthorized attempts to access or use the sensitive informationdisplayed on the card. In the foregoing example and in numerous otherordinary, commonplace, and frequent transactions, the sensitiveinformation of a credit card user is exposed and potentially compromisedthrough several avenues.

There exists some covers which provide a limited solution to theincreasing problem of information theft. Such covers preclude directvisual observation of selected aspects of the credit card or debit card.For example, U.S. Publication 2012/0200077, by Pohlman, (hereafter,“Pohlman”) provides an adhesive cover primarily concerned withobstructing view of a credit card's security code (which is only one ofseveral pieces of sensitive information on a credit or debit card).Inasmuch as a card's security code is typically not embossed, the coverof Pohlman is perfectly suited for this limited scope of protection.However, the cover taught by Pohlman is less effective at concealing thecard number or account number on a credit card, debit card, or othersuch card, which is most often embossed. If applied to such numbers,conventional covers such as that taught by Pohlman can be circumventedby an information thief who simply places a piece of paper over theembossed numbers and creates a pencil rubbing of the embossed numbers.Thus, the thief can misappropriate the protected information evenwithout needing to remove or tamper with the known covers.

Additionally, known covers are applied over limited portions of thecard, concealing only selected portions of the sensitive informationthereon. While this advances the goal of providing a low-profile coverso as not to interfere with ordinary use of the card, it alsonecessarily limits the function of the covers. Known covers are toosmall to provide aesthetic enhancement to the cards or to physicallyprotect the cards. As such, the known covers provide limited protectionfor the card.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention prevents information thieves and others frommisappropriating the user's sensitive information from the user's debitcard, credit card, or other similar card. Throughout this specification,the terms credit card and/or debit card are used as examples of cards towhich the cover disclosed herein may be applied. However, the use ofsuch example language is not intended to be limiting. The cover of thepresent invention provides a low-profile cover that does not interferewith normal use of the credit card. At the same time, the presentinvention provides enhanced security and additional features not foundin the prior art covers. The present invention is a low-profile, sturdycover made of a thin, rigid material which is attached to each face ofthe debit card. The cover material preferrably is also durable,waterproof, and readily adapted to carry an adhesive backing. In apreferred embodiment, the cover material is rigid vinyl. The coverdisclosed herein is of a minimal thickness and does not cover themagnetic stripe on the card's back face, such that the ordinary use ofthe card, such as swiping the card at a gas station pump, is notinhibited. The material of the cover is sufficiently rigid that it willresist pressure when applied over embossed numbers on a credit card.This means that the number cannot be revealed by simply rubbing a pencilon a piece of paper held over the covered number.

The present invention may be decorated to enhance the aesthetic qualityof the card. The present invention covers and obscures all sensitiveinformation which is on either face of the card (including, for example,account number, card number, and/or security code). Accordingly, thecover of the present invention occupies a substantial portion of thecard and noticeably affects the visual appearance thereof. Thus, addingdecoration to the cover of the present invention enables it to serveaesthetic purposes as well as its security and protection purposes.

An additional advantage of the present invention is that it provides astructural reinforcement to the card. Debit cards and credit cards arefrequently passed through a variety of reading devices which impartvarious bending forces on the cards. Over many months or years ofrepeated use, the stress on the cards from these and other events canlead to cracking, warping, or other structural failures in the cards,which are typically made of a lightweight and flexible plastic material.When the cover of the present invention is applied to the card, thestructure of the card is reinforced and the likelihood of structuralfailure substantially reduced.

Cards from different providers will have sensitive information printedor displayed on varying parts of the card (e.g., some credit cards havethe security code on the back face, whereas other have it on the frontface). Accordingly, the cover disclosed herein encompasses a substantialportion of both faces of the card so that all possible locations forsensitive information are obscured and protected. Thereby, the cover isuniversal in that it is suitable to work with a wide range of creditcards, debit cards, and the like. Moreover, the cover prevents awould-be information thief from even knowing where sensitive informationis located on the card, making it that much more difficult for thewould-be thief to misappropriate such information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of a card with the inventive coverapplied thereto.

FIG. 2 illustrates a back view of a card with the inventive coverapplied thereto.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the inventive coverand a card to which it may be applied.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the disclosed cover includes two components, onefor each face of the card. A first cover component 1 is attached to thefront face 11 of the card 10. A second cover component 2 is attached tothe back face 12 of the card 10. The card may contain sensitiveinformation on one or both faces, and on multiple areas thereof. In thecase of a credit card, the sensitive information includes the user'sname 13, account number or card number 14, and a security code 15. Whenthe first cover component 1 is applied to the front face 11, some or allof the account number or card number 14 may be obscured thereby. In theillustrated embodiment, portion 14 a of the number 14 is covered whileportion 14 b of the number is still visible when the first covercomponent 1 is applied to the card 10. Additionally, the card 10includes a magentic strip 16 on the back face 12 thereof which encodessome of the sensitive information, typically the account number, andwhich may be read by a machine to autmoate part of the desiredtransaction. The uncovered portion 14 b may be reviewed once themagnetic strip has been read by a machine to confirm that the encodednumber matches the displayed number 14. Typically, machines which readthe magnetic strip 16 will only print out or display a selected portionof the number, most commonly the last four digits. Thus, the uncoveredportion 14 b preferrably includes the last four digits of number 14.Also on back face 12 is a signature panel provided for the user'ssignature 17. When a transaction is carried out in person, the user'ssignature 17 may be visually compared to the user's name 13 on the frontface 11 and to the user's signature appearing on a receipt, invoice,other paper, or electronic display. The disclosed cover obscures asubstantial portion of the sensitive information. The user may memorizethe obscured information, or may write down or otherwise record theobscured information and keep it separate from the card itself in a moresecure location. The disclosed cover does not obscure other information,such as the user's name 13 and signature 17, which information is usefulin confirming the user's identity during in-person transactions. Thedisclosed cover also does not obscure the magnetic strip 16 or otherwiseinterfere with the use thereof when the card is swiped, such as at a gasstation pump.

In a preferred embodiment, the disclosed cover obscures at least thesecurity code 15. In the illustrated embodiment, security code 15 islocated on the front face 11 of card 10. However, it is alsocontemplated within the scope of the invention that the security code 15may be located on other areas of the card 10, as is common and known inthe industry, including on the back face 12. When first and second covercomponent 1 and 2 are attached to the front and back faces 11 and 12,most or all common locations for the security code 15 will be obscuredfrom view and otherwise protected from misappropriation.

Credit cards and debit cards are available in standard overalldimensions, the embossed account number or card number 14 is located astandard distance from the top and bottom edges of the front face 11 ofthe card 10, and the magnetic stripe 16 is located a standard distancefrom the top and bottom edges of the back face 12 of the card 10. Theusers name 13 is displayed below the account number or card number 14 onthe front face of the card 10. In the description herein, terms such as“top,” “bottom,” and “below” are with reference to the orientation shownin FIGS. 1 and 2. The locations of other information, such as the cardsecurity code 15, are not standard and may vary from one card toanother.

Cover component 1 is designed to be compatible with cards having thestandard dimensions and information locations described. Accordingly,cover component 1 has a height and length that correspond to thestandard height and length of the card 10 (as shown in FIG. 1). Further,cover compenent 1 has a first window 3 corresponding to the standardlocation of the user's name 13, but the height of first window 3 is suchthat the top edge of first window 3 falls below the standard location ofthe card number or account number 14, in order to obscure and protectthe number 14 while the user's name 13 can still be observed when thefirst cover component 1 is superimposed over the front face 11, as shownin FIG. 1. Also as shown in FIG. 1, first cover component 1 has a secondwindow 5 which corresponds to the standard location of the number 14 inthe vertical direction, but which is of a more limited horizontal extentthan number 14. Accordingly, when first cover component 1 is attached tofront face 11, only a portion 14 b of number 14 is discernable. Coveredportion 14 a of number 14 is visually obscured by first cover component1, and is physically protected by first cover component 1 when firstcover component 1 is attached to front face 11. The physical protectionprovided includes both structural reinforcement to the card 10 andprevention of misappropriation of the embossed number 14 by a rubbing.Additionally, in embodiments wherein the security code 15 is located onthe front face 11, first cover component 1 will also visually obscureand physically protect security code 15 when first cover component 1 isattached to front face 11.

Second cover component 2 is designed to be compatible with cards havingthe standard dimensions and information locations described.Accordingly, second cover component 2 has a length that corresponds tothe standard length of the card 10 (as shown in FIG. 2). Also as shownin FIG. 2, the height of second cover component 2 is less than that ofcard 10, so that when second cover component 2 is attached to the backface 12 with the bottom edges thereof substantially aligned, the topedge 6 of second cover component 2 is below the magnetic strip 16.Further, second cover component 2 has a notch or rabbet 4 correspondingto the standard location of the signature strip and user's signature 17on the back face 12 so that the user's signature 17 is still discernablewhen second cover component 2 is attached to back face 12. Inembodiments wherein the security code 15 is located on the back face 12,second cover component 2 will visually obscure and physically protectsecurity code 15 when second cover component 2 is attached to back face12.

Preferrably, first and second cover components 1 and 2 are composed of avinyl material, with an adhesive backing applied to inner surfaces 7 and8, respectively, thereof.

While preferred embodiments and example configurations have been shownand described, it is to be understood that various further modificationsand additional configurations will be apparent to those skilled in theart. All such modifications and configurations are contemplated as beingwithin the scope of the present invention. The specific embodiments andconfigurations disclosed are illustrative of the preferred and bestmodes for practicing the invention as defined by the appended claims,and should not be interpreted as limitations on the scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims. Accordingly, this inventionincludes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recitedin the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover,any combination of the above-described elements in all possiblevariations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwiseindicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

I claim:
 1. A cover for a card, said card containing one or moredisplays of sensitive information, comprising: said card having a frontface containing a first display of sensitive information, said cardhaving a back face opposing said front face and containing a seconddisplay of sensitive information, a first cover component attached tosaid front face, said front face having a long edge, said front facehaving a short edge, said first cover component having a long edgecorresponding to the long edge of said front face, said first covercomponent having a short edge corresponding to the short edge of saidfront face, said first cover component having a first window, said firstwindow having a long edge parallel to the long edge of the first covercomponent and the long edge of the front face, said first window havinga short edge parallel to the short edge of the first cover component andthe short edge of the front face, said first window located on the firstcover component to correspond to and permit observation of a firstportion of said first display of sensitive information, said first covercomponent having a second window, said second window having a long edgeparallel to the long edge of the first cover component and the long edgeof the front face, said second window having a short edge parallel tothe short edge of the first cover component and the short edge of thefront face, said second window located on the first cover component tocorrespond to and permit observation of a second portion of said firstdisplay of sensitive information, wherein said first cover componentobscures and protects a third portion of said first display of sensitiveinformation, wherein said first display of sensitive informationconsists of said first, second, and third portions, a second covercomponent attached to said back face, said back face including amagnetic strip and a signature, wherein said second cover componentobscures and protects said second display of sensitive information, andwherein said magnetic strip and said signature are not obscured by saidsecond cover component.
 2. The cover of claim 1, wherein said firstcover component further comprises an adhesive backing and is attached tosaid front face thereby, and wherein said second cover component furthercomprises an adhesive backing and is attached to said back face thereby.3. The cover of claim 1, wherein said first and second cover componentsare made of a thin, rigid material.
 4. The cover of claim 3, whereinsaid thin, rigid material is vinyl.
 5. A cover for a card, said cardcontaining one or more displays of sensitive information, comprising:said card having a front face containing a display of sensitiveinformation, said card having a back face opposing said front face, afirst cover component attached to said front face, said front facehaving a long edge, said front face having a short edge, said firstcover component having a long edge corresponding to the long edge ofsaid front face, said first cover component having a short edgecorresponding to the short edge of said front face, said first covercomponent having a first window, said first window having a long edgeparallel to the long edge of the first cover component and the long edgeof the front face, said first window having a short edge parallel to theshort edge of the first cover component and the short edge of the frontface, said first window located on the first cover component tocorrespond to and permit observation of a first portion of said displayof sensitive information, said first cover component having a secondwindow, said second window having a long edge parallel to the long edgeof the first cover component and the long edge of the front face, saidsecond window having a short edge parallel to the short edge of thefirst cover component and the short edge of the front face, said secondwindow located on the first cover component to correspond to and permitobservation of a second portion of said display of sensitiveinformation, wherein said first cover component obscures and protects athird portion of said display of sensitive information, wherein saiddisplay of sensitive information consists of said first, second, andthird portions, a second cover component attached to said back face,said back face including a magnetic strip and a signature, wherein saidsecond cover component obscures and protects said back face, and whereinsaid magnetic strip and said signature are not obscured by said secondcover component.
 6. The cover of claim 5, wherein said first covercomponent further comprises an adhesive backing and is attached to saidfront face thereby, and wherein said second cover component furthercomprises an adhesive backing and is attached to said back face thereby.7. The cover of claim 5, wherein said first and second cover componentsare made of a thin, rigid material.
 8. The cover of claim 7, whereinsaid thin, rigid material is vinyl.
 9. A cover for a card, said cardcontaining one or more displays of sensitive information, comprising:said card having a front face containing a first display of sensitiveinformation, said card having a back face opposing said front face andcontaining a second display of sensitive information, a first covercomponent attached to said front face, a second cover component attachedto said back face, said back face including a magnetic strip and asignature, wherein said first cover component obscures and protects saidfront face, wherein said second cover component obscures and protectssaid second display of sensitive information, and wherein said magneticstrip and said signature are not obscured by said second covercomponent.
 10. The cover of claim 9, wherein said first cover componentfurther comprises an adhesive backing and is attached to said front facethereby, and wherein said second cover component further comprises anadhesive backing and is attached to said back face thereby.
 11. Thecover of claim 9, wherein said first and second cover components aremade of a thin, rigid material.
 12. The cover of claim 11, wherein saidthin, rigid material is vinyl.